At Work, Under Pressure

Jessi Beyer
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  • Management

Solve your workplace pressure point. At Work, Under Pressure is a podcast about the moments when work gets hard – when burnout rises, people get overwhelmed, conflict escalates, and mental health crises sneak into the workplace. Hosted by Jessi Beyer, a SWAT negotiator and licensed mental health professional, we take you behind the scenes of today’s workforce and show you what’s working and what’s not in workplace mental health, straight from the mouths of executives, HR professionals, safety/risk leaders, and corporate wellness experts who are seeing it firsthand. At Work, Under Pressure is for leaders who understand that people problems become operational problems when organizations are not prepared. If that’s you, pull up a chair, whip out a notebook, and settle in for real conversations about building workplaces that are safer, steadier, and better equipped for high-pressure human moments.

  1. 21h ago

    Employee Benefits, Rising Healthcare Costs, and the Business Case for Prevention with Chris Kerwood

    CONNECT WITH JESSI ON LINKEDIN >>> HERE! Employee benefits are not just a recruiting tool. They are one of the places where healthcare costs, prevention, mental health, productivity, employee education, and workplace culture all intersect. In this episode of At Work, Under Pressure, Jessi Beyer sits down with Chris Kerwood of USI to talk about employee benefits, rising healthcare costs, preventive care, mental health, population health, insurance trends, and what employers need to understand about the real cost of employee well-being. Chris explains why healthcare costs are rising, including delayed care after COVID, increased utilization, pharmaceutical costs, GLP-1s, gene therapies, provider negotiations, hospital margins, and even AI upcoding. He also breaks down why employees need to better understand their own benefits — especially preventive care, which is often covered at 100%. Jessi and Chris also dive into workplace mental health, including the post-COVID rise in mental health concerns, the financial impact of mental health-related productivity loss, the elevated risk in construction and blue-collar industries, and what strong organizations do differently to support their people. In this episode, Jessi and Chris discuss: How Chris’s background as a student athlete shaped his work ethic and careerWhat USI does as a full-service insurance brokerageWhy healthcare costs are rising for employers and employeesHow delayed care after COVID is still affecting claims and utilizationWhy GLP-1s, biosimilars, and gene therapies are reshaping benefits conversationsWhat employees misunderstand about preventive careWhy people should actually read their plan summariesHow AI is affecting healthcare billing and codingWhy employers are exploring high deductible health plans, HMOs, and alternative funding strategiesWhat employers need to understand about mental health as a benefits and productivity issueWhy construction is a high-risk industry for suicide preventionWhat strong organizations do to create connection, purpose, and peer support This episode is for HR leaders, benefits professionals, executives, business owners, brokers, safety leaders, and anyone trying to understand how employee health affects the bottom line. Because benefits are not just about coverage. They are about prevention, access, culture, and whether people can actually get the support they need. CONNECT WITH CHRIS chris.kerwood@usi.comLinkedInUSI

  2. 2d ago

    Managing Up, Listening Deeply, and Balancing Metrics with Humanity with Jonathan Fedak

    CONNECT WITH JESSI ON LINKEDIN >>> HERE! What happens when HR is grounded in psychology, business strategy, and humanity? In this episode of At Work, Under Pressure, Jessi Beyer sits down with Jonathan Fedak to talk about industrial-organizational psychology, human resources, workplace culture, managing up, mental health, mergers and acquisitions, and what it means to lead people through the gray areas of work. Jonathan’s background in psychology shaped how he approaches HR today. From testing and selection work with police and fire agencies to compensation, payroll, government, retail, manufacturing, and executive-level HR leadership, he brings a rare combination of analytics, psychology, and people-centered judgment to the workplace. In this episode, Jessi and Jonathan discuss: How industrial-organizational psychology shaped Jonathan’s HR careerWhy words from leaders create psychological contracts with employeesWhat it means to manage upward and advise executives on communicationWhy “good concept, better words” can be one of HR’s most useful toolsThe difference between checking the policy box and understanding the person in front of youWhy great HR requires judgment, flexibility, and contextHow to balance metrics, performance, and humanityWhy culture is built in micro-moments, not just big eventsHow mental health has become more visible in the workplace since COVIDWhy employee mental health affects the bottom line whether leaders want to talk about it or notHow to communicate with employees during mergers, acquisitions, and major transitionsWhy the word “why” can feel threatening during organizational changeWhat Jonathan’s tattoo — “We think we have time” — means in work, life, and leadership This episode is for HR leaders, executives, managers, business owners, and anyone who has ever wondered how to balance business needs with real human lives. Because HR is not just about resources. It is about the humans that make up your workforce. CONNECT WITH JONATHAN LinkedInOregon Corners Florist (his wife's newly acquired flower shop!)

  3. 4d ago

    10 Suicide Prevention Statistics Every Business Leader Should Know (Solo Mini-Sode)

    CONNECT WITH JESSI ON LINKEDIN >>> HERE! Most leaders understand that suicide prevention matters. But when it comes time to fund training, build a peer support program, or make the case to the executive team, compassion often needs numbers behind it. In this solo mini-sode of At Work, Under Pressure, Jessi Beyer breaks down 10 suicide prevention statistics every HR professional and business leader should know. This episode is designed as an educational resource for leaders who care about their people, but need a clearer business case for investing in workplace suicide prevention. Jessi explains why suicide prevention cannot be reduced to an EAP referral, why serious suicidal ideation is more common than many leaders realize, and how the costs of suicide, suicide attempts, emergency care, nonfatal self-harm, lost productivity, absenteeism, and coworker postvention can show up across an organization. In this episode, Jessi discusses: Why 4% of Americans seriously consider suicide each yearHow many people will personally know someone who dies by suicideWhy surviving a suicide attempt often means there is real hopeHow many Americans die by suicide annuallyWhy primary care, not mental health care, is often where people show up firstWhy an EAP is a resource, not a complete suicide prevention strategyHow suicide prevention education and peer support programs can produce measurable ROI This episode is for HR leaders, executives, managers, safety professionals, wellness leaders, and anyone trying to make the case for suicide prevention before crisis hits. Because the question is not whether suicide risk exists in your workforce. It is whether your organization is prepared to respond before “it hasn't happened yet” becomes reality.

  4. Jul 24

    Why Workplace Wellness Fails and How Small Habits Actually Change Lives with Clark Lagemann

    CONNECT WITH JESSI ON LINKEDIN >>> HERE! Why do so many workplace wellness programs fail? Because most of them ask people to change too much, too fast, for reasons that do not actually matter to them. In this episode of At Work, Under Pressure, Jessi Beyer sits down with Clark Lagemann of Avidon Health to talk about workplace wellness, employee engagement, behavior change, motivational interviewing, habit formation, mental health, AI, and why pizza parties are not a wellness strategy. Avidon Health helps employers build wellness programs that meet employees where they are. Rather than assuming one app, one challenge, or one big launch will change everyone’s life, Clark explains why sustainable change usually starts with small, realistic actions that build confidence over time. In this episode, Jessi and Clark discuss: Why there is no silver bullet for workplace wellnessHow Avidon Health grew out of a physician practice focused on behavior change beyond medicationWhy the term “non-compliance” misses the bigger issueHow motivational interviewing helps people connect change to what actually matters to themWhy readiness for change is essential in wellness engagementHow small wins create momentum, confidence, and dopamine-driven reinforcementWhy employers should stop expecting dramatic overnight lifestyle changesWhat workplace wellness has to do with recruitment, retention, productivity, and profitabilityHow COVID accelerated expectations around whole-person support at workWhy AI can be a powerful thought partner but not a replacement for human accountabilityWhy mental health remains harder to see, discuss, and support than physical healthWhat leaders should ask themselves if they do not believe workplace mental health matters This episode is for HR leaders, benefits professionals, executives, founders, wellness leaders, managers, and anyone tired of workplace wellness programs that look good on paper but do not change behavior. Because wellness is not about launching the flashiest program. It is about helping people build habits they can actually sustain. CONNECT WITH CLARK LinkedInAvidon Health

  5. Jul 22

    Fair Chance Hiring and the Risk of Getting Pre-Employment Background Screening Wrong with Gavin Bray

    CONNECT WITH JESSI ON LINKEDIN >>> HERE! What should employers actually know before running a background check? In this episode of At Work, Under Pressure, Jessi Beyer sits down with Gavin Bray of Alliance 2020, a nationally accredited background screening firm headquartered in Washington State. Gavin breaks down what employment screening really includes, why accreditation matters, how background checks protect organizations, and why screening should never be used simply to “weed people out.” Instead, background checks are one part of a bigger hiring picture — one that includes fairness, compliance, role relevance, applicant experience, and thoughtful decision-making. Jessi and Gavin also dive into Washington’s Fair Chance Act, including what employers need to understand about conditional job offers, criminal history, individualized assessments, and why employers cannot rely on blanket “no felony” policies. They also discuss marijuana testing, drug screening panels, negligent hiring risk, second-chance employment, and the balance between protecting the workplace and creating opportunities for people with past criminal history. In this episode, Jessi and Gavin discuss: What Alliance 2020 does and what employment screening includesWhy national accreditation matters in the background screening industryThe “tree” of background screening: criminal checks, drug screening, employment verification, education verification, driving history, credit reports, and moreWhat Washington employers need to know about pre-employment cannabis testingThe risk of negligent hiring claims when employers do not screen candidatesWhy background checks can improve applicant experience and reduce internal HR burdenHow the Washington Fair Chance Act affects hiring decisionsWhy employers need conditional job offers before running background checksWhy criminal history should be evaluated in relation to the roleHow second-chance employment can reduce recidivism and create opportunityWhy background screening should be part of a holistic hiring decision, not a shortcut to exclusion This episode is for HR professionals, business owners, hiring managers, compliance leaders, executives, and anyone responsible for building a safer, fairer, more legally sound hiring process. Because good screening is not about ruling people out. It is about making better decisions. CONNECT WITH GAVIN gavinb@alliance2020.comLinkedInAlliance 2020

  6. Jul 20

    PE-Backed Trade Schools and the Culture of Ethical Growth in Regulated Industries with Jim Tolbert

    CONNECT WITH JESSI ON LINKEDIN >>> HERE! What does it take to buy, build, and scale a business without losing sight of ethics, culture, and people? In this episode of At Work, Under Pressure, Jessi Beyer sits down with Jim Tolbert of ExecCap Advisors to talk about entrepreneurship through acquisition, the business of education, regulated industries, private equity, trade schools, leadership, and what it takes to grow companies responsibly. Jim’s connection to entrepreneurship started long before his professional career. His father, an Air Force veteran, bought and ran a trade school in Baltimore, making trades education part of Jim’s childhood and family story. After starting his career in investment banking and consulting with organizations including Morgan Stanley, Walt Disney, and McKinsey, Jim returned to those roots by building a company that provided tuition financing for trade school students. That journey eventually led him to acquire, operate, and scale trade schools himself, including growing one platform from a single location to nine locations across four states over 15 years. Today, through ExecCap Advisors, Jim partners with experienced executives, veterans, and former business owners who want to buy and run companies. In this episode, Jessi and Jim discuss: How Jim’s childhood around a family trade school shaped his entrepreneurial pathWhy trades education matters and why the world does not need everyone to follow the same academic routeThe tension between for-profit and nonprofit educationWhat it means to operate ethically in a highly regulated industryWhy regulation can become a competitive advantage when handled wellHow to build a culture of ethics inside a growing companyWhy regulators should be treated more like customers than enemiesWhat changes when a business grows from one location to nineWhy the right leader at two locations may not be the right leader at nineWhat entrepreneurship through acquisition is and why experienced executives can be strong acquisition entrepreneursWhy veterans may be especially well-suited to buying and running businessesThe people-related challenges that come with buying, scaling, and leading companies This episode is for entrepreneurs, investors, executives, veterans, business owners, searchers, leaders in regulated industries, and anyone interested in acquisition entrepreneurship, ethical growth, and the human side of scaling a company. Because growth is not just a financial strategy. It is a leadership test. CONNECT WITH JIM LinkedInExecCap Advisors

  7. Jul 17

    Faculty, Staff, Students, and the Chain of Support in Higher Education with Erin Ruff

    CONNECT WITH JESSI ON LINKEDIN >>> HERE! When a student is struggling, they may not go to a counselor first. They may go to a professor. A coach. A resident director. A staff member. Someone they already know and trust. In this episode of At Work, Under Pressure, Jessi Beyer sits down with Erin Ruff, an HR leader at the University of Puget Sound and president of the Washington State chapter of CUPA-HR, to talk about mental health, employee wellness, student support, and the unique role HR plays in higher education. Erin shares how she moved from a global corporation into higher education, what she loves about working in a collaborative university environment, and why supporting faculty and staff directly impacts the care students receive. She also talks about wellness days, menopause book clubs, coaching employees through difficult conversations, the importance of leadership buy-in, and why listening can be one of HR’s most powerful tools. In this episode, Jessi and Erin discuss: Why higher education HR is different from corporate HRHow faculty and staff often become natural support systems for studentsWhy student mental health support depends on employee supportThe emotional toll on resident directors, coaches, student affairs staff, and frontline student support rolesHow HR can support employees without trying to solve every personal problemWhy listening matters more than many leaders realizeHow wellness days and community-building events help reduce silosThe unexpected success of a menopause book club on campusWhat CUPA-HR does for higher education HR professionalsWhy leadership buy-in is essential for meaningful staff and student supportHow small morale boosters can build trust, retention, and engagement This episode is for HR professionals, higher education leaders, faculty, staff, coaches, student affairs professionals, and anyone responsible for supporting people inside complex, mission-driven organizations. Because students need support. And so do the people they turn to first. CONNECT WITH ERIN eruff@pugetsound.eduLinkedInUniversity of Puget SoundCUPA-HRCUPA-HR Washington Chapter

  8. Jul 15

    Why Firefighter Mental Health Requires More Than an EAP with Memories Mannix

    CONNECT WITH JESSI ON LINKEDIN >>> HERE! Who takes care of the people who take care of everyone else? In this episode of At Work, Under Pressure, Jessi Beyer sits down with Memories Mannix, an HR professional with Renton Regional Fire Authority, to talk about first responder mental health, peer support, suicide prevention, workplace culture, and what it looks like to support firefighters from the HR side. Memories began her career at T-Mobile, working her way from call center roles into HR. That experience taught her how to navigate frustrated callers, assume positive intent, understand the impact behind someone’s anger, and practice self-care in a high-stress environment. Eventually, a mix of organizational change, opportunity, and a desire for mission-driven work led her into the fire service. Now, at Renton Regional Fire Authority, Memories helps support roughly 200 members, including around 160 uniformed personnel. In this conversation, she shares how the department supports firefighters through physical injuries, administrative burdens, peer support, specialized therapists, and ongoing mental health resources. In this episode, Jessi and Memories discuss: What call center work taught Memories about empathy, impact, and difficult conversationsWhy she transitioned from T-Mobile into HR in the fire serviceHow Renton Regional Fire Authority supports firefighters and staffWhy first responder trauma can feel like a slow drip over timeHow HR can reduce administrative burden when firefighters are injured or strugglingWhy culturally competent therapists matter for first respondersHow Renton’s 24-member peer support team creates multiple points of accessWhy peer support should include members across ranks and rolesHow collaboration between fire agencies can improve mental health supportWhat Memories would say to leaders who do not believe workplace suicide prevention matters This episode is for HR professionals, fire service leaders, first responders, peer support teams, union leaders, public safety agencies, and anyone who wants to better support the people doing high-stress, high-impact work. Because gratitude is not enough. First responders need systems that take care of them too. CONNECT WITH MEMORIES: mmannix@rentonrfa.orgLinkedInRenton Regional Fire Authority

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About

Solve your workplace pressure point. At Work, Under Pressure is a podcast about the moments when work gets hard – when burnout rises, people get overwhelmed, conflict escalates, and mental health crises sneak into the workplace. Hosted by Jessi Beyer, a SWAT negotiator and licensed mental health professional, we take you behind the scenes of today’s workforce and show you what’s working and what’s not in workplace mental health, straight from the mouths of executives, HR professionals, safety/risk leaders, and corporate wellness experts who are seeing it firsthand. At Work, Under Pressure is for leaders who understand that people problems become operational problems when organizations are not prepared. If that’s you, pull up a chair, whip out a notebook, and settle in for real conversations about building workplaces that are safer, steadier, and better equipped for high-pressure human moments.

Information

  • Creator
    Jessi Beyer
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Jessi Beyer
  • Show Website
    At Work, Under Pressure